BariBrian

And what happens when school budgets dictate that these great programs be shut down or reined in, as mine just did. To be happy for the disappearance of what was makes no logic sense. Ages ago? =) I was married and out for several years by the time that you are talking about.

LOL The reason it doesn't make sense is because it was brought up for no reason. It really had nothing to do with the post. It was just something that you wanted to say. I deal with children that do that. Thats all I'm saying. It was said in the hopes of stirring things up and really had no bearing on the OP's post, other then to put down the quality of corps from the past which apparently in your opinion is good that they are in the past. I respect that you do not care for the past corps, but if thats the case, don't come to the Historical sight, because its full of folks that DO care for those corps. Stay with the current discusions Threads. To not do so, with the opinion that you seem to have, merely shows that you are looking to start something. I would think to someone of your intellegence, that this course would make no sense and look just a little bit like a child.

Dan, All I'm seeing is someone that just wanted to start trouble here by posting something that quite frankly made even LESS SENSE then the original Poster if you can imagine that. Posting something just for the sake of stiring others up, makes no sense other then you like to tick others off. I will admit that hornlines of today are much more advanced, but your comment is no better then someone from this historical site blindly making the statement that hornlines of today are boring! What purpose is served??

Wow ,,So you were actually in front of ALL of the other corps that you judged to be out of tune?? Because Microphone Placement and equipment used can have a great deal to do with the way a corps sounds on the recording along with the primitive show designs of the day and the instruments used. Tell me just how old are you to be able to experience them all first hand? I mean, Thats a long list of corps and you judge only ten or is it twelve to be in tune?????? Also alot can be done at the computer when producing recordings of today (this is something that I am familiar with) so that the engineers of today have a distinct advatage over the yesteryear folks.

Outstanding. The best of Luck and a welcomed return

Absolutly !! Right on the Money

How disappointing. Guess I will have to go with "Not as intellegent as you seem. I was of course speaking of the recording industry and how the systems in place back then and the placement of the microphones could really make corps sound bad. coupled with a show designed that constantly exposed weak players or weak sections. To generalize as you have without any REAL knowlege or experience of the past really shows a lack of thought in your statements, which gives your comments no real Legitimacy. Don't you think?

I see no reason to insult any corps to make a point about the original "non-accurate" list. Stop being a chest poker and just stick to topic. While your at it, you might want to read a little about sound engineering from 30 years ago and see the strides they have made there as well. Also, If you don't think show design doesn't make a difference in sound,,well maybe you aren't as knowlegable as you seem to be

Geeze is this guy kidding. Take Avant Garde from Saratoga Springs NY off the list too. Finacial toubles like everyone else, but mostly because the corp director Jeff Perkins had had enough, and the good folks that steped in to take his spot weren't up to the task sadly. I would like to be mad at DCI for many things, but not this !! He's got the Riely Raiders on here LOL they were Gone LONG before DCI

I totally agree. The only drum corp that we want to save are the corps in those pictures! The Corps of today,,well,, they don't want us to "Save them". Lets go to Puppets Place

Many Thanks to you as well, for your honesty, respect and intelligence. No need to totally agree here, but I respect what you say, and thats all that matters to me. Winning is for the kids on the field right

Drumno, Your point is well thought out and intelligent and I do agree with what you are saying. The “Golden Era” of drum corps in my opinion refers more to the overwhelming number of corps back then (again this is just my opinion) and not so much a slap at today’s outstanding corps. Again you are correct when you say that “ The o.p. states quite unequivocally "Golden Era corps... had their own identities" but again I would point out that I believe they were not just talking about the music. The Muchacho’s never had to play a note for you to determine that most of their music would be of Spanish flavor, and likewise for 27 or the Kilts or the Troopers, and even the Vanguard and Phantom offered a style that not only was their own, but no other corps would try and copy. If it weren’t the uniform that you recognized it was the music itself. I think corps today, are more open to change and are more likely to test a different style without the fear of being labeled as departing from a style that “Got them there” in order to move up. That’s where us old farts get confused with who we’re listing to =) I’ll put it this way. I love the Beatles and am use to their sound and style, but if they had suddenly changed their style to Rap or New Wave, simply because everyone else was successful with those approaches, I may find myself confused, and turned off. I have two friends that were professional baseball players about 30years ago and even they say things like “We did it better” and “Back in our day” and I’d wager that every form of activity that is more then five years old will have some folks that will talk like that. Comparisons will always be made by the ones that “came before” and no amount of argument against their stance will change that type of thinking (no matter how intelligent the argument). I’m guessing that’s one of the reasons the “Historical Forum” was created. So old farts like me, had a place to say “Back In the Day” =) I don’t believe its ever anything personal really, I just think we “Old Lions” have to roar once in awhile, to remind ourselves and others that we still can. These topics are so redundant through out DCP. The same discussions, the same arguments, always brought up but worded differently, The most successful thread here is a thread that is hard to argue because its mostly old photos and great memories. Its should always be about good memories on this forum and less fighting, but as my dad use to say “You can’t move forward without a push from behind” Some sort of lesson there I’m sure. Anyway, I have had fun conversing with you. Remember these threads and what’s said on them, aren’t something to get stressed about and they can be entertaining just reading them, To the kids that feel disrespected, I say DON’T its nothing personal, and to the old farts, I say EASE UP. These corps today are unbelievable and talent filled. They aren’t like we remember, but then,, what is?

Wow he was great! Should be added for certain. Southern Tier Grenadiers,,,wow!!! Fantastic Horns !!!

I agree. There is no going back. Embrace the glory days, but also embrace the present. Other wise we are destined to be a fine car that has two wheels going forward and two wheels going backward. Change is hard. I hate it, and it took me a long time to accept it,,but it is what it is and no amount of wishing will bring it back to what I remember and enjoyed.

Well,, I can't speak for everyone that see's the activity and would never generalize to make my point, but I will say in my opinion, Corps in general, have lost a lot their Individuality. Of course there are exceptions as you mentioned, but, like it or not, there was a time, when you didn't have to look at the uniform to know who was playing. I respect your argument (all be it a little on the bitter side) but, I speak what I believe to be the truth, and I believe many in the activity that have been around as instructors or Admin, or even had marched in those times feel this way. It isn't an attack on the corps themselves. They are fantastic and so incredibly talented. And I'm not saying that there is no originality. Just not a huge variety in styles, again, IMHO

Oops,,,anyway. I agree! Moe Knox isa legend, and should NOT be overlooked on such a very thin, if not in fact, hypocritcal reason.

I was in the Avant Garde their first year, and we made the top Twenty Five, which meant touring where DCI told us to tour the following year. When our corp Director notified the powers that be, that we could not afford to tour that year, he was told that if we did not tour then we could expect no help from DCI what so ever. None of us knew what that meant until that year. We had been scoring in the high 60's and low 70's the week prior to the DCI Prelims, but that day, although we thought we had done our best job of the year, we scored a 61. Money buys more then championships,, so you see this goes way beyond Mr. Hopkins. He should not be vilified for all of Drum Corp woes.

Are these still available?

Do you still have the Bari and are there any pictures?

Poughkeepsie Pacers, Stillwater Mavericks

Don't forget the Avant Garde, who were made up of the Bethesda Emerald Knights & the Spieglairs (2 very good corps on their own). The Troy Muchachos, the Volunteers and the Interstatesmen to name a few. All Part of that NYS Thruway connection. Miss all that have been mentioned on this thread Kieth,, but,,don't fade away.

75 Phoenix !! I am a huge fan of them and what they accomplished